When building a PC you have many choices to make, do you go small and keep things functional or do you go big and start flexing for your friends and family. In this episode we talk about big computer cases and why you would want to build in one like the Cooler Master HAF 700.
In this episode we take a first look at the long awaited Z690 Dark Kingpin Edition from EVGA. This is a motherboard targeted at overclocking but does not skimp on the essentials needed to be a proper gaming or working station build. We later transition to some progress we made on the Retro PC Subwoofer project to bring boom to your beige box.
We talk about building your own PC and what parts you need to buy and how much you should spend but, then often take the stance that you should stop your building with the tower and then flood your build with purchased accessories. While this makes good sense from economical standpoint you are missing out on the point of building a PC. In this episode we touch of the subject of sound quality and why you are leaving so much on the table by going retail with your sound solution.
We all know that the current PC world is a price driven market and we have often spent hours comparing specs, reading reviews, checking forum posts and watching shitty YouTube videos all to determine “what is the best bang for the buck”. Hardware makers have caught on to this and have gone to great lengths to create products that conform to a level of Minimum Viable Product then promote these cut down versions to influencers across the globe.
Many hardware enthusiasts question their system builds wondering if they have the best cooling or if they can get a little more performance from their processor of graphics card. These questions often lead to armchair wars about the best hardware and if the overall cost is worth the effort. In this episode we explore the world of high-end computers from popular boutique builders and then trash on the latest extreme gaming build from PCGamer and Maximum PC
Before the wide spread use of the Internet there were limited ways for computers to communicate and in this episode we will be taking a look at the parallels between the modern web comprised of Social Media, Various websites and Service providers and how all of that interaction finds its roots into a little known software package called a BBS.
We knew this day would come, the day when we could finally start buying video cards at or below suggested retail prices. In this episode we talk about the reasons behind this and take a look at some of the video cards that are currently available from basic RTX 3070 Ti’s to The Water Devil, EVGA Kingpin editions and the ROG x Evangelion Unit 01 RTX 3080 and Motherboard.
In this episode we talk about a rather niche part to the enthusiast keyboard market, the ergonomic keyboard. Strangely enough, there is a well-established standard for conventional keyboards but, when it comes to ergonomic designs it might as well be the wild west. So far, there is no perfect design but plenty of independent companies have tried.
In this episode the duo discusses some new keyboard form factors that may very well change the very fabric of reality when it comes to the human interface to your PC. For years we have suffered through using full sized keyboards with more keys than we know what to do with. But that is all about to change with the new and popular 80% and 65% mechanical gaming keyboards.
In this episode the Duo talk about the recent RTX 3090 Ti launch and discuss if the card is really worth your money. The elevated cost combined with a marginal performance increase and lack of aftermarket components makes it rather unattractive solution, even to us. This is followed up with a discussion about the Hardware Asylum YouTube channel and the Retro PC projects it has been featuring.
In this special episode Dennis is doing a live podcast recording at Hackfort 2022 and having a candid discussion with Rob Wakeley. Rob had just completed a presentation on the use of computers in early business from using an Apple II for spreadsheets to using an IBM PC to thwart check fraud.
In this episode the duo discusses the history of multiplayer gaming and how technology and ultimately changed some of the best parts of multiplayer gaming. What once was driven by massive death matches has transformed into 5 player squads.
During the lockdown many of us started working from home which allowed us to continue on with our lives but also increased our risk to security threats. The risk has always been there however one of the golden rules in security is to not make yourself a target. Keep a low profile and be smart about what you do. Of course, the same can be said for Dying Light 2, which has been shaping up to be a very Meh game.
We picked up a 3D Printer over the holiday season and while it has been a blast to use and an integral part for some of the Retro PC YouTube projects it was not without its problems. In this episode we talk about getting into 3D Printing along with some of the things you should know and what you should pay attention to when printing your projects.
In this episode we talk about some of the Retro PC projects we have posted to the Hardware Asylum YouTube Channel including motherboard repair, retrobright and RestoMods using vintage hardware.
In this episode the duo talks about how with the chip shortage and out of control inflation has changed the PC gaming landscape and completely removed the lowest end segment of the PC market, the entry level gaming PC. Combine that with users building systems incorrectly with overrated components and you have a recipe for disaster.
With the ups and downs for 2021 we wanted to shed some light on one aspect of the year that did not disappoint, games. There were plenty of great games to play, some required the latest and greatest hardware while others remained great on older platforms.
One of the most important discoveries in the human race is the ability to save messages and this can take on many forms from notes, photos and even hieroglyphics. We save them so to tell a story and over the years the manner in which we save and store these stories has changed. As you would have guessed there are some good ones and some really bad ones.
In this episode we discuss some of the latest triple A games that are hot this holiday season and dive into some of the issues surrounding their release. While most of these games have gotten amazing Metacritic scores from professional sources the reverse is happening when it comes to actual gamers trying to play these games.
In this episode the duo talk about migrating computers and some of the gotchas you encounter from missing software to proper ways to back up your data. Bottom line is that you need to invest in a good NAS or external hard drive and make regular backups of your data. Later Dennis is surprised that one of his RetroPCs was infected with the Stoned virus and why it is such a great find.
In this episode the duo talks about the new processor platform from Intel, codenamed Alder Lake. The new processor is a radical departure from what Intel has released in the past and promises to be one of the best gaming processors you can buy while bringing DDR5 and PCI Express 5.0 to the market.
We once again have Sean in the Hardware Asylum Labs and in this episode, we dive into Windows 11 and discuss the TPM 2.0 requirement to install the new operating system. What is it? Why would Microsoft require it?? And what does it mean for the Hardware Enthusiast.
In this episode we are taking some time to talk about Hackfort 2021 with Sean Wakeley, the director of Hackfort. It had been two years since Hardware Asylum last presented and it was good to get back out despite the challenges with the global situation and the uncertainty surrounding how the general public will handle the restrictions and requirements to attend.
Computers come in a variety of different sizes, the guys are impressed with the big ones while the ladies claim it doesn't matter. In this episode Dennis shares his latest project plans which involve an extremely small motherboard packed into an even smaller chassis. Later Darren talks about his adventure receiving a two-piece M.2 drive in the mail
In this episode the Duo talk about 3D Printing with an introduction to a highly modified Creality CR 10s FDM 3D Printer along with some tips and tricks for the beginner. The discussion then shifts to how a 3D Printer can be used in the manufacture of custom PC Components and even modifying an existing 3D Printer.
Early this spring Dennis decided it was time to pick up a new lawn mower and after checking the reviews, reviewing the prices and meditating on the dilemma he settled on a product he had never considered before, a battery-operated lawn mower from #EGOPowerPlus. Given how far battery technology had advanced he figured how badly could an electric mower actually be?
In this episode we look at the benefits and drawbacks to using high speed DRAM in your gaming PC and if the extra performance is actually worth the extra cost. The duo then discusses reasons for and against using a Home Theater sound system on your desktop PC.
In this episode continue their discussion on picking a processor for a mid to hi-end gaming build and not surprising it wasn’t any of the options discussed during last months Podcast Extra. After that we take an in-depth look into the Phanteks P500A Eclipse. Dennis has reviewed both of the lower end versions of this case and for the most part the P500A is similar with a unique focus on opening up the airflow.
In this continuation episode the duo discusses the evolution of the graphics API that dictated the growth in the GPU market and defined how games were not only developed but consumed by enthusiasts. As a PC gamer we don’t talk about the dark days of the Xbox 360 and the void called “Games for Windows” but, it is a defining moment in game development that changed PC hardware forever.
In this episode we go shopping for a processor and compare specifications to determine the best option for our build. We later look at the issues of playing old games on modern hardware when the required interfaces and drivers are missing and cause the game to run slower and with less detail.
